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Leggings Outta Sleeves

Introduction: Leggings Outta Sleeves

Making stuff out of things is sooo super fun and awesome! Turn old and dated clothes into something new. Finding cool prints is easy, just check out your local thrift store or your mom's closet. I found a jersey knit long sleeve turtle neck on quarter day at the Family Thrift Outlet and this is what I made.

Follow these easy steps to learn how to make leggings for the special baby in your life.

Step 1: Round-up Supplies

Step 2: Make a Pattern (optional)

This step is optional:
If you a seasoned sewer, you may collect a high five and go directly to step 3.

Otherwise, here's how to make a pattern:

1. Fold leggings in half, one leg ontop of the other
2. Lay on newspaper and trace with 1/4-1/2 inch allowance *
3. Cut paper
4. You now have a pattern!

*Note: you may notice the newspaper is short a few inches, I just added them when cutting the fabric.

Step 3: Cut Fabric

1. Place shirt on surface and lay flat.
2. Remove sleeves.*
3. Place pattern or original leggings ontop of sleeves with seam facing inward, use the hem on the bottom of the sleeve as the hem on leggings.
4. Cut the fabric following the pattern or original leggings as a guide.

Step 4: Sew Part I

1. Turn "sleeves" a.k.a legging legs inside out.
2. Place ontop of one another seams lined up on the left, pin the crotch and sew 1/2 inch from the center of crotch.*
3. Pin other side of crotch and sew 1/2 inch from the center.*
4. Sew hole left in center of crotch closed, following the curve.

*Note: This will help avoid fabric from puckering.

Step 5: Sew Part II: Waist Band

1. With leggings turned inside out, Fold the top of the fabric down about a 1/4 inch wider than the width of the elastic, pin in place.
2. Sew along the top leaving an inch opening on the backside.
3. Measure the length of the elastic according to size, plus a 1/4 inch.
4. Feed the elastic through the opening with a safety pin.
5. Sew the elastic with a zig zag stitch, overlapping a 1/4 inch.
6. Stitch the opening closed.

Tips

Questions

5 Comments

I sometimes get large men's long sleeve shirts at the thrift store (if they're a nice thick material... like a cotton, silk, and cashmere woven t-shirt blend) and make pants for my preschoolers. The longest arms are just long enough for my 5 year old to wear, but he's getting tall, so that won't last forever. If the sleeves are long enough for pants, I can usually get another pair of pants from the main part of the shirt.

Soft elastic pants are great for potty training kids that might have trouble with buttons or snaps. :)